Karunanidhi asks PM to help Tamils in Malaysia

Karunanidhi asks PM to help Tamils in Malaysia:

New Delhi / Chennai: The Malaysian government has cracked down on protesting ethnic Tamils, who took to the streets alleging lack of job opportunities, education and political power.

• The country's government is threatening to invoke the controversial Internal Security Act against street rallies which allows for detention without trial. 

• The protests are also a problem to ethnic Indian politicians. The longest serving minister in the country, Minister of Works, S Samy Vellu, who also heads the Malaysian Indian Congress, has dismissed the agitation as unnecessary.

• "They are just leveling unfounded excuses in order to popularise themselves. I considered them. They are not fighting for the Indians. They are fighting to create a problem," says Vellu.

• The protests have kicked up a political storm in India as well. Tamil Nadu MPs across party lines demanded the Centre's intervention to secure the release of the detained Tamilians and its got the state's ruling and opposition parties together. 

• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M Karunanidhi has already written to the Prime Minister asking him to take "immediate and appropriate action on the sufferings and bad treatment of Tamils in Malaysia". 

• Opposition leader and MDMK Chief, Vaiko too has voiced his concern.

• MDMK MP, Krishnan says, "The Central Government needs to speak to the Malaysian government to bring relief to many Indians in Malaysia who have been treated rather unfairly."Jayalalithaa too has joined in calling for immediate action and called the attack on the protestors barbaric.